Chapter 6
Riley
“Sweetheart?”
Gunner’s voice tells me two things. Our baby is still in danger, but alive.
I take a deep breath, the first since I heard Jasper call all of the present Northern Grizzlies into Church.
It took every fiber of my being not to barge in there today. Looking up at the face I know so well, there’s something else that he’s worried about telling me.
He tilts his head, standing aside so I’ll have room to pass him. I leave the table that I’m sitting at with Charlie and Molly, without a word and continue up to the room that’s still assigned to him after all of these years.
Looking around, it hasn’t changed much, besides some of the things I’ve added over time. I’ll never forget that day I came here, so damn confident—and foolish. Memories of other days and nights here flood my mind and I wonder how I’ll categorize today, once he gets around to telling me what’s happening.
“I remember that helmet I gave you on your first day here, and how Leslee would use it for her dress up games when she was a munchkin.” Gunner’s low voice makes me smile, the fact that our minds have gone to the same place brings me as much comfort as the feel of his arms circling around me. “The Navaja cartel was waiting for the plane, Parks is dead, but Leslee’s safe.”
My legs give out with the first part of his update, and I find myself swung up into his arms as he crosses to the large recliner. His eyes holding mine as he repeats, “She’s safe.”
“Tell me.” I can’t believe the effort it took to get those two words out of my mouth. Focusing on the slow and steady beat of his heart through his chest and cut, I wait for the other shoe to drop. Because the shadows in his eyes have already told me there’s something else bothering him.
“They didn’t mess around with Parks, just put him down, but they weren’t firing directly at Leslee, so that tells me they want her alive. Um, our guy got there right in time to pick her up, he was nicked, but it was minor enough that she tended to the wound. He got her to Silver’s brother’s old place,” he informs me. “I spoke to her.”
“But, Jasper was going to send the Virginia chapter for her. Why was there only one guy? Why isn’t she at their clubhouse?” My voice gets louder with each word. It’s not like Jasper to change plans on a dime, he’s too methodical.
“Flint brought up a valid point, keeping her hidden for a while is easier done without dozens of people—some we don’t know, being involved. Vector agreed, and Flint called someone else to pick her up.” Now Gunner’s just stalling.
While I narrow my eyes at him, I focus on trying to get ahead of the chess game that Flint always seems to be playing.
“Who would Flint… No. No, he did not call that man to secrete our daughter for the duration of this…” I bellow in his face.
“Sweetheart, calm down.” Gunner tries to soothe me, tightening his arms to keep me on his lap. “I know, I wasn’t happy about it either, but it’s done.”
“Oh, you weren’t happy about it? Are you going to be happy being a grandfather? Because I am too fucking young to be a grandmother!” I only seem to have one volume right now, and the fact that Gunner isn’t immediately flying across the country to keep them apart, makes me even more furious.
“Riley, first of all, you like Hyde, remember? Second of all, he understands that she used to have a crush on him, but he’ll never touch her. Honestly, I think I’d be more nervous if it was any of the younger guys from Vector’s chapter. And if Hyde finally comes back here after all of this, then it’s a win-win.”
“Me liking that man has no bearing on me wanting him as a son-in-law. I respect, love, and need you more than the air I breathe, but you are fucking kidding yourself if you think she’s over him.” I ground out the words, watching them sink in. “Do you know how many times I’ve gotten the mail in the past four years? One time, the day she broke her ankle. The next day, she hobbled her butt down the driveway to the mailbox when I went to the bathroom. And wasn’t he supposed to stop sending the postcards at some point?”
“I trust Hyde, Riley. And Flint wouldn’t have…” the words are no sooner out of Gunner’s mouth than I see something click in his eyes. “Son of a bitch.”
“Bree misses Joe,” I softly prompt him. “And Flint’s not getting any younger.”
“And there’s nothing Flint wants more than to make Bree happy,” he concludes. Finally, I think, but save myself the eye roll; at least until he continues. “But that doesn't mean that Joe will cross that line.”
“Christ, Gunner, the only person nearly as diabolical as Flint, is Leslee.” I sigh, exasperated.
“Really? Because I’d put Xander about ten pegs above her,” Gunner says with a proud smile pulling at his mouth, and I lean up to kiss his full lips.
He deepens it, working out a release for the worry we’re both feeling, until I pull back. “That’s because she’s had you wrapped around her pinky since she popped out of me.”
“Mom’s right.” Xander’s voice startles both of us, and I look over to see our son peeking through a narrow opening of the door before he pushes through it. “Leslee’s only ever wanted to be with Hyde. Dad, you know you terrify the fuck out of all the guys, so you just assumed that’s why she wasn’t dating anyone. It was the perfect cover for her.”
“We’re gonna have a talk later, Xan,” Gunner tells him. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind twisting the bottom lock before you shut that door.”
Xander’s eyes widen, but our kids know us well enough that they back off when Mom and Dad want private time.
“Gunner, I want to talk to…”
“Tomorrow. We’ll get a different burner and call to check in,” he growls, gathering my hair tightly up in his large hand, and leaning in to kiss me. “I worked that out for you, after that we’re radio silent for a week.”
“I’m going to talk to her, then you and I are having a whole other conversation.”
“Yeah, but later,” Gunner says, before lowering me to the rug and doing his damnedest to distract me.